Official: Lions tour ON despite SA’s stricter lockdown measures

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The government has officially confirmed that the British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa will go ahead as planned, clearing up any confusion that the event was in jeopardy after the country moved to level-four lockdown restrictions this past Sunday.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday night that South Africa will move to adjusted level-four restrictions as of Monday for at least two weeks amid the third Covid-19 wave.

The announcement caused confusion, with many believing it placed serious doubt on whether the eight-match Lions tour would go ahead since there had been no clarity on the status of sporting events in Ramaphosa’s lengthy speech.

However, on Monday it was confirmed in the government gazette that all professional sporting events are still allowed.

With travel in and out of Gauteng prohibited, it remains to be seen whether the Lions’ five matches scheduled to take place in that province will go ahead, be relocated to a different province or be called off.

On Sunday, news also broke that three Springboks – Herschel Jantjies, Vincent Koch and Sbu Nkosi – had tested positive for Covid-19 and that the entire squad are currently in self-isolation as a result.

 

Photo: Gallo Images

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SA Rugby magazine